06-05-2025
Teachers spending more than £220 of their own money on hungry kids every year
A new study of of 867 teachers found 36% see hungry children arriving at school every day, with some regularly spending their own money to buy food for the kids
Teachers are digging into their own pockets, spending nearly £25 a month – that's more than £220 throughout the academic year – to feed hungry school kids. According to a study of 867 educators, teachers spend an average of four hours a week helping and supporting hungry children.
The ' Hungry to Learn: The impact of morning hunger on schoolchildren' report uncovered that over a third witness hungry children arriving at school every day. As a result, many are regularly parting with their own money to buy food for kids, and a quarter have given away food they brought in for themselves.
The study found 78% of the teachers polled consider the issue of kids not having food every day to be a 'significant' worry, and 49% of teachers feel the number of children going hungry has increased compared to last year.
However, eight in ten teachers admitted they often feel more like a caregiver than a teacher, with 78% describing that the school had become more of a 'community hub'. This has left more than one in twenty claiming they may not have become a teacher had they known the extra 'pastoral responsibility' that would come with it.
Andrew Ridge, social impact and sustainability lead at Kellogg's, which commissioned the research to launch its annual Breakfast Clubs Awards, stressed that: '"Teachers are truly going above and beyond to help kids stay fed.'
With the cost of living he suggests many more parents are feeling the pinch, which is leaving many children struggling to focus on their education due to the impact of being hungry in the morning.
"We must continue to join forces as educators, businesses and government to help support those communities, and take collective action to tackle hunger.'
The research, discovered that a shocking one in four adults are having trouble feeding their family, with many reducing their electric and gas usage to scrape together money for meals. Others have had to rely on loans from family and friends.
Andrew added: 'Breakfast clubs make a huge difference. They not only create a welcoming space where children can socialise, feel settled before school, and be ready to learn, but also provide vital childcare support for parents and carers.'
Jack Ryan, 20, works as Buildings Health and Safety and Community Manager at Co-op Academy Failsworth, a school with nearly 1,500 students. He works both on the Academy's community fridge scheme, as well as their Breakfast Clubs, which can feed as many as 400 students on a single day.
He said: 'Our motto is 'take what you need and leave what you can'. We provide ambient food, staples you can make meals out of, and hygiene products as well because we are fighting hygiene and period poverty and things like that.
'Around 45% of our students are entitled to free school meals, and the area is quite deprived. We also offer in the morning a free Breakfast Club, which is run by a small team. I come in early every morning, and the team and I give that time for free.
Despite not being on the teaching staff, Jack interacts with children on a daily basis and recognises the dangers of children not arriving to school well-fed, noting: "Arriving to school hungry can sometimes have an impact on their behaviour."
Jack also reports there are children who are not entitled to free school meals, but still struggle, which is where breakfast clubs can continue to help.
He said: 'On the one hand it's amazing, we've got this facility that so many people are donating to, so many companies are donating and supporting such great provision, which is having such a massive impact – but on the other hand, it's something that we shouldn't have to do.'
The spokesperson added: 'We are celebrating the teachers and schools going above and beyond at our annual Breakfast Club Awards, highlighting those who are making considerable impacts on their local community.'
